BY now, the community of nations have been made aware that coronavirus 2019, with its scores of variants and hundreds of mutations, has a tendency to surge following major holidays. Many of these celebrations, sadly, are religious in nature and involve the large movements of people from one place to another, aside from the congregation of the believers.
India’s Kumbh Mela was responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 in that populous country last April-July. Hindus believe the Ganges River is holy and taking a dip in it will cleanse them of their sins and bring salvation. So several millions of them swooped down on Haridwar and other river banks to bathe starting April, and created the mother of super-spreaders that cost the world thousands of lives.
Indonesia, with its 255 million inhabitants, became Asia’s pandemic epicenter in August-September 2020 when tens of millions crossed the densely populated archipelago to visit their relatives. It was the annual mudik (exodus) which begins with the “holy” month of Ramadan which is sacred to all Muslims. Culture, religious traditions, and government inaction as evidenced by its refusal to declare a nationwide quarantine all contributed to deaths and suffering in the midst of the pandemic.
‘Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that virtual parties
remain the best way to prevent
a spike in COVID-19, especially
now that we are fighting a relatively unknown variant, the Omicron.’
Last September 20-22, South Korea had its Chuseok, when people from the cities travel to the countryside to visit their relatives and pay homage to their relatives who have died. This is the same to our All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day at the onset of November. Chuseok along with pockets of church services have been blamed by many for the current resurgence of COVID-19 in South Korea.
The American Thanksgiving holiday was touted to be another spreader of COVID-19 and those who predicted this were correct as there has been a spike in infections in several states. The US is averaging more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, the highest level in two months. And this occurred shortly after millions of Americans traveled for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In the Philippines, Filipinos still note with pride that we have the longest Christmas season in the whole world, which is no longer relevant in the time of the pandemic. This holiday season more often than not connotes parties, gatherings, and merry-making. And here again, the risks of getting infected with COVID-19 are always present.
It is timely that the Department of Health has advised those who will organize or attend parties to follow minimum health protocols and follow the standards recommended in gatherings, such as no buffet-style food service and the use of outdoor venues.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that virtual parties remain the best way to prevent a spike in COVID-19, especially now that we are fighting a relatively unknown variant, the Omicron.
We should keep the celebration short and subdued, so that we and others will get to enjoy life longer.
